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Initial Searches and the Annotated Bibliography

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2015Initial Search and Annotated Bibliography► Annotated bibliographies help you keep track of your

search results. ► It allows you to:

► more carefully analyze their sources► read critically for alignment► determine a style and “mine” other sources for new

sources

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2015Creating an Annotated Bibliography

► The purpose of your annotated bibliography is to keep track of the sources that you have read, viewed, or experienced, and how those sources can contribute to your overall argument.

► This will help you build arguments based on evidence and have a record to refer to when you’re citing others’ work.

► An annotated bibliography is a list of sources, together with a very short description and evaluation for each source.

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► An annotated bibliography entry should include:

► A citation in an appropriate style (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.)► Your style will depend on the discipline you are studying. A list will be available in

class files.

► A brief summary of the text

► Comment on the authority or credibility of the author► CRAAP!

► Comment on strength and weaknesses of their argument► Analysis! This is important on the rubric.

► The author’s point of view► More analysis! Get points!

► How the text relates to the your question or thesis► Why are you using this source?

The Annotated Bibliography

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Salinsky, E., & Scott, W. (2003, July 11). Obesity in America: A growing threat. National Health Policy Forum Background Paper. Washington, D.C.: George Washington University.

This 31-page background paper was written in 2003 by two research associates with the bipartisan National Health Policy Forum (NHPF) in order to influence government policy. Salinsky and Scott focus on the economic and health costs associated with obesity and health-related issues, not just for individuals struggling with weight problems but for the country as a whole. This paper has useful evidence to support my thesis about the consequences of inaction by the government. A family member gave me this book, which now seems to be out of print but is archived on the NHPF website, www.nhpf.org/library/details.cfm/2421.

From http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/wr123/AnnotatedWorkingBibliography.htm accessed 2 April 2015

Example (APA Format)

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► SITUATE► Find key words from a source to align/revise your question and to search for

other sources.

► METHOD► Look for what and how findings were developed in previous studies.

► ANNOTATE► Document/cite a source with an annotation on how it relates to your study.

► REFERENCE► Use bibliographies of the source to mine for other sources and other key

words.

► TRANSFER► Identify key quotes or elements of the source that you will add to your

research.

► EVALUATE► Consider bias, gaps: be critical.

► REFLECT► Use your PREP journal to record insights after engaging with several

sources.

SMARTER Searches

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► SITUATE► What key words are you using and why? Are they effective?

► METHOD► Did you look at methods from other studies to help you choose yours?

► ANNOTATE► Why did you choose this source? How is it related to your study?

► REFERENCE► Did you look at the bibliography of your favorite source to find other important sources?

► TRANSFER► Do you have solid evidence from a source to back up your claims? How is your work related to

someone else’s work?

► EVALUATE► What about this source makes it important or unimportant? Are there alternative perspectives you

have yet to explore?

► REFLECT► What AHA moment did you have when reading your sources? What can you do with what you’ve

learned?

Guiding Questions for Peer Review

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2015SMARTER SearchesWord Meaning Guiding Question for Peer

Review

Situate Find key words from a source to align/revise your question and to search for other sources.

What key words are you using and why? Are they effective?

Method Look for what and how findings were developed in previous studies.

Did you look at methods from other studies to help you choose yours?

Annotate Document/cite a source with an annotation on how it relates to your study.

Why did you choose this source? How is it related to your study?

Reference Use bibliographies of the source to mine for other sources and other key words.

Did you look at the bibliography of your favorite source to find other important sources?

Transfer Identify key quotes or elements of the source that you will add to your research.

Do you have solid evidence from a source to back up your claims? How is your work related to someone else’s work?

Evaluate Consider bias, gaps: be critical. What about this source makes it important or unimportant? Are there alternative perspectives you have yet to explore?

Reflect Use your PREP journal to record insights after engaging with several sources.

What AHA moment did you have when reading your sources this week? What can you do in the next three days with what you’ve learned?

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► By beginning your search on one of the following sites, you will find information that comes from generally reliable sources.

► You will still need to practice using your RAVEN/PAARC credibility tests to evaluate your findings.

► These sites allow for more focused searching.► The following are potential academic databases/sites:

► Ebsco you already have access to this!► ProQuest► Gale► Gale: Opposing Viewpoints in Context► ProCon.org► Google Scholar► Worldcat.org► Jstor► ABC-CLIO issues database

Your Initial Search

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► www.google.com/advanced_search► Provides annotations on how to use the Google Advanced search

criteria

► https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2466433?hl=en&rd=1► Provides examples of punctuation, symbols, and operators to get

more specific search results

► www.socialscience.uq.edu.au/documents/forms/infoskills_operators1.pdf► Provides a helpful overview of key ways searches can be

modified to provide more specific results

Strategies for Online Searching

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Activity 1: SMARTER Searches

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► Samples 1 & 2-the student did not annotate, evaluate, or transfer anything about any of these sources to their own research question.• Why did you choose this source? How is it related to your study?

► Sample 3 & 4-the student did not transfer anything about this source to their own research question/study nor evaluate for bias/gaps.• Why did you choose this source? How is it related to your study?• What about this source makes it important or unimportant? Are

there alternative perspectives you have yet to explore?► Sample 5-WELL DONE!

Sample Problems and Guiding Questions

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Activity 2: Crafting Annotated Bibliography Entries

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2015Annotated Bibliographies: Key Words and Phrases (provided in appendix)► X acknowledges that…► X agrees that…► X demonstrates that…

► According to X, “…”► I disagree with X because…► X’s claim assumes…► My view is…

► X’s work matters because…► These conclusions imply…

► While I grant that…, ► I still think…► While … is…, it does not necessarily follow that…

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► Using the provided source in Appendix 1 (Chamberlin, & Powers, 2010) create your own annotated bibliography entry.

► Reflect on this exercise: ► What did you find easy or hard about this task? ► How can you move beyond summarizing a resource to

engaging with the resource to situate your work within a larger academic community?

► How can you use initial searches to clarify your question and method?

Create Your Own Annotated Bibliography Entry